Living with the Climate & Altitude in Denver and the Colorado Mountains

 

Summer Weather

Summer in Colorado is a very pleasant experience, but knowing what to expect is a must. Summer weather can be particularly dramatic as clouds quickly form over the mountains in the morning and drift over the plains by the afternoon, often producing daily thunderstorms.

For most Coloradans, summer is a favorite time of year as low humidity allows cool nights and cool breezes. Even on the hottest days, many people find the "dry heat" quite tolerable. On average, Colorado receives more days of sunshine per year than Florida. Many newcomers are surprised to see how little it rains here.

Snow! (and the rest of the year)

The other seasons are pleasant as well. In most years, the snow in Colorado falls mostly in the mountains, making the skiers happy! Snow in Denver is generally short-lived, either evaporating or melting quickly. Fall and Spring are delightful, with cooler days and pleasantly crisp evenings.

Denver has 300 days of bright sunshine a year!
Denver average annual rainfall is 15.4 inches per year
Denver average annual precipitation is 15.81 inches per year.
Denver average annual snowfall is 59.5 inches per year.
Denver average temperature is 50.1 degrees F.
The average low temperature is 36.2 degrees F.
The average high temperature is 64.2 degrees F.
The average winter temperature is 33 degrees F.
The average summer temperature is 72 degrees F.

No matter what the season is, because of the high elevation certain precautions should be taken to ensure that the high altitude does not negatively impact your stay in Denver.

Prevention of Altitude Sickness

Here are some tips so you can enjoy your stay in Colorado 100% of the time:

- Do not overexert yourself for the first 24 hours.

- If you begin to show symptoms of moderate altitude illness, do not go higher until symptoms decrease.

- Make sure each member of your party is properly acclimated before going higher. People acclimate at different rates.

- Stay properly hydrated. You need to drink plenty of fluids per day to remain properly hydrated - 3 to 4 quarts per day.

- Eat a high carbohydrate diet while at altitude (70%+ calories)

Sun Safety

Sun in Colorado is intense year-round. Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a hat, waterproof sunscreen and loose-fitting light colored clothing. A sunscreen of at least 15 should be used by most people.

Keep very young children's skin from being exposed to the sun.

Concentrate your outdoor activities, if possible, before 11 AM and after 3PM.

If you become overheated, sit in the shade & drink plenty of water.

Just because its cloudy, don't think you won't burn. UVB levels are less but are not absent.

High Altitude Cooking

Cooking at high altitude can be challenging. In metro Denver, water boils at 202 degrees F.
This means that food cooks at lower temperatures and their cooking times will be longer. Lower air pressure also causes baked goods to rise faster, so less leavening is needed. Water evaporates much more quickly at high altitude than at sea level.

When baking, reduce each teaspoon of baking power by 1/4; decrease each cup of sugar by 2-3 teaspoons; increase by 3-4 tablespoons each cup of liquid. Oven temperature should be increased by 25 degrees F. Reduce by 25 degrees F when using glass containers. Slightly increase all cooking times and for best results, use smaller pans, and grease and flour or use parchment paper, especially for cakes.